‘I don’t give interviews,’ Luke said.
Felicity looked at him as if he’d just said he didn’t breathe oxygen. ‘But you must give an interview. Everyone wants to know about your romance with Abby. Like how on earth you kept your identity a secret for all this time. That in itself is worthy of a two-page spread. Now that we know who you are, we need to hear your side. You can do a guest blog with dating tips for the man about town. It’ll be fabulous.’
‘I’m sorry—I’m not interested.’
Felicity was undaunted and swung her gaze to Abby. ‘Talk him into it, sweetie. He’s a reader magnet. And so hot!’ She fanned her face with her hand. ‘No wonder you’ve been hiding him away for all this time. I wouldn’t want to share him with anyone either.’
‘I’ll see what I can do.’ Abby stretched her mouth into a smile.
Once Felicity had moved on, Luke pressed a firm warm hand in Abby’s lower back, his low deep voice containing a thread of steel wrapped around every word. ‘Do I have to say it again?’
‘No. I heard you loud and clear.’ Abby gave a little eye roll. ‘No interviews.’
He let out a gusty sigh. ‘I need a drink.’
She grabbed his hand and led him towards a drinks waiter carrying a tray. ‘So do I.’
* * *
Luke stood with Abby a few minutes later with a glass of champagne in hand while she chatted to the other guests before the ballroom was opened for the main event. He put in a few words occasionally but he figured the less said the soonest mended. It was like being in a play but having read only half the script. Abby had told her readers things about ‘him’ that made him cringe. What sort of expert was he on romance? He had unwittingly sabotaged every relationship he’d ever been in and he had no intention of repeating those hard-learned mistakes.
And as for giving interviews. Sheesh. Were these people for real? If they wanted to interview him about his work then fine. But his private life was off limits. He could talk about work at a stretch, but he usually left it to his staff to handle media interviews. He liked working in the background and getting on with the research and design that led to the breakthroughs in medical robotic engineering that had changed lives all over the world. That was what he was an expert at doing. Not swanning around a gala ball making banal conversation with people he had nothing in common with and never would.
But it had to be said, Abby was looking smoking-hot tonight and he was quite enjoying the envious looks he was getting from the other men. He was also enjoying the way her body kept brushing up against his in the crowded foyer outside the ballroom. He kept his arm around her waist, and every now and again she would glance up and smile at him and something tightly closed in his chest would flick open.
He could still taste her.
The fruity sweet softness of her lips made him hungry for more. And, just like every other man present, he was having trouble keeping his eyes off her cleavage. Not that there wasn’t lots of cleavage on show from the other women at the ball, but somehow it was Abby’s that drew his eyes like a bee to highly prized pollen.
‘Let’s have a look at the silent auction while we wait,’ Abby said, leading him to a display where various items were on show. ‘You might find something you like.’
The only thing Luke liked so far was the way Abby looked in that dress. He was all for a bit of fundraising and it was an excellent cause, but none of the items in the silent auction particularly interested him, although there were a couple of original artworks that caught his eye. He had more than enough wealth to buy whatever he wanted when he wanted it. He was happy to make a donation without collecting any of the goods.
Abby seemed rather taken with one of the lucky door prizes that were also on show. She stood in front of the display of a week for two on a privately owned island in the Mediterranean with a wistful look on her face.
‘Gosh, wouldn’t this be great to win?’ she said, pointing to the photo of a white sandy beach and the luxury villa that overlooked it. ‘I’d love a week sunning myself on a private beach. Imagine being rich enough to own your own island!’
Luke had often thought about buying an island—somewhere to escape to and leave all the worries and pressures of life behind. Somewhere where the guilt that plagued him wouldn’t follow. He’d even gone as far as looking at some online and taking a virtual tour. The thought of sand and surf and solitude was seriously tempting.
Almost as tempting as Abby.
‘Great place for a honeymoon, eh, Abby?’ one of the women from the magazine said on her way past.